Victoria is home to a number of very picturesque and beautiful waterfalls spread all around the state. Over the past few years, I had the pleasure of visiting some of them and thought of creating this page as an on-going journal of my visits. As I discover more of these hidden gems in Victoria and visit them, I’ll keep adding them to this page. I hope this information will be useful to another someone keen to explore some of these beauties.
To start off with, I have created a map with all the waterfalls marked in it. If you want to get directions for any of the waterfalls or want to get a feeler about which part of the state any of them is located, the map is the easiest and the quickest way.
Now, time to get to the details. For convenience, I’ve ordered the list based on the distance from the Melbourne CBD. So, waterfalls at the top of the list are the ones closest to the city, and as you go down the list, they’ll be further and further from the city. So, if you’re looking for something closer to the city that you can get to quickly, look at the top of the list 🙂
I’m not going to go into a lot of details about each waterfall, but, hopefully, just enough details to pique your interest. You can easily research these waterfalls for more details. If you find any of this information useful, or if you would like to connect with me for more details or just for a friendly chat, I’d love to hear from you! You can contact me via my Instagram Account.
If you would also like to check-out some of the other locations I’ve photographed, you can visit my photography map.
While I have listed these strictly based on far they are from the city, keep in mind that in certain cases, there are a few waterfalls in the general area/region. In these cases, make sure to visit all of the waterfalls in the region to make the most of your journey.
- Trentham Falls - 93 kms
- Turpins Falls - 101 kms
- Steavenson Falls - 106 kms
- Phantom Falls - 145 kms
- Henderson Falls - 146 kms
- Sheoak Falls - 146 kms
- Toorongo and Amphitheatre Falls - 150 kms
- Erskine Falls - 152 kms
- Lower Kalimna Falls - 168 kms
- Stevenson Falls - 171 kms
- Morwell River Falls - 183 kms
- Cyathea Falls - 197 kms
- Beauchamp Falls - 203 kms
- Hopetoun Falls - 217 kms
- Triplet Falls - 224 kms
- Hopkins Falls - 241 kms
- MacKenzie Falls - 309 kms
- Nigretta Falls - 311 kms
- Wannon Falls - 314 kms
- Ladies Bath Falls - 322 kms
Trentham Falls
- 93 km
- Free Parking and Toilets
Of the waterfalls I’ve visited so far, this is the closest to the city, at just under a 100 kms. It’s an easy hour to hour and a half drive from the city. There is ample parking at the location and the viewing are is an easy 10 minute walk from the car park. When I visited, the trail was closed, so you could only view the falls from a distance and there was no way to get closer or to get to the foot of the falls.
There are toilet facilities available at the location.
Click here for Google Maps directions.
On The Way / While You're Here
You can also check-out Mount Macedon and the Hanging Rock while you’re here.
You can also drive on a little bit further to check-out Turpins Falls, which is number 2 in my list.
Turpins Falls
- 101 km
- Free Parking and Toilets
Second up on the list is Turpins falls, at just over a 100 kms. The last few kilometers of the drive is over unsealed gravel road, but should not be an issue for a car. The walk down to the waterfall is a bit tricky as the path is not in the best condition. You’d need good walking shoes and need to be very careful on your way down and back-up to make sure you don’t slip. The steps also are a bit steep, calling for that extra bit of caution.
I would also recommend to check the latest reviews/updates on this one before heading this way, just to make sure that it hasn’t been closed off and is still safe to use the trail.
Click here for Google Maps directions.
Turpins Falls, Victoria, Australia – DesignBoard Photography
On The Way / While You're Here
You can also check-out Mount Macedon and the Hanging Rock while you’re here.
If you’re traveling from the city, or from the south or the east, you can also check out Trentham Falls, number 1 in my list, on the way.
Steavenson Falls
- 106 km
- Paid Parking and Toilets
Coming in at 106 kms from the city and at the third place on my list is Steavenson Falls.This time we’re headed to North East of the city. Located in the beautiful little city of Marysville, this waterfall is also within reach of a comfortable drive from the city. The base of the waterfall itself is easily accessible from the carpark via a well maintained path. You can take a further trail, around 2 kms, to reach the top of the waterfall. The trail is not difficult and is well defined.
The car park for the waterfall has parking meters that don’t support EFTPOS. So, keep a few coins ($3) handy to feed the meters.
Click here for Google Maps directions.
On The Way / While You're Here
Remember to stop by the beautiful little towb of Marysville.
Phantom Falls
- 145 km
- Free Parking, Picnic and Barbeque
- 3.9 km
One of the many beautiful waterfalls in the Great Otway National Park, and the first in my list, Phantom Falls is a 3.9 km return walk from the Allenvale Road car park on Allenvale Road. The full walk is along a well defined gravel path. The first part of the path winds it way through a private property and the St. George River. There are clear directions and the path is easy to find and follow. While most of the path is fairly steep in places, there is one spot that is very steep. The path at this spot is also covered in loose gravel, so, be extra careful when you’re going up and coming back down. On your way to the falls, when you’re the top of this especially steep spot, you can see a waterfall in the distance on your right (unfortunately, I’m not sure what the name of this one is). Keep walking! This is not your final destination 🙂 As the path would get quite muddy with rain, a good pair of hiking boots is definitely recommended. Overall, I would say the walk is a moderately difficult one.
The end of the walk will bring you to the viewing platform at the top of the falls. You really can’t see much from here. There is a little to the right of the viewing platform that’ll take to the base of the falls. There are a few steep steps, so, be careful. With rain, the steps would get quire slippery, so, those hiking boots would come in handy here too.
Click here for Google Maps directions
Here’s some more details on the (return) walk to the falls.
Phantom Falls – Walking Details
On The Way / While You're Here
There are so many wonderful places to visit along the Great Ocean Road and within the Great Otway National Park. Henderson Falls, the one in my list is a short drive from here (when you drive from Phantom Falls to Henderson Falls, the distance is around 6.5 kms). Or, if you’re more in the mood for a more challenging hike, trek to the Cora Lynn Cascades or continue along the path (past Phantom Falls) to The Canyon and the Sheoak Picnic Area. From the Sheoak Picnic Area, you can access the Upper/Lower Kalimna Falls (further down in my list).
Henderson Falls
- 146 km
- Free Parking
This one proved to be a bit of a tricky one to find initially, simply because we followed Google Maps! Even the mightiest falls sometimes and this is what happened to me. If you follow Google Maps strictly, it’ll take you further along Sharps Road to a walking path that does not exist! So, what you should do is make your way to the Sheoak Picnic Area (funny that the Sheoak picnic area is quite a way from the Sheoak falls), park there and then follow the directions to the falls.
As the falls is not that big and there isn’t a whole lot of water, the best time to visit would be during Winter and Spring, or when there been good rain fall. If it has rained recently, you should also go prepared with proper footwear as spots along the trek to the falls tend to get quite muddy. Nothing too difficult, but, it’s always good to be prepared.
On The Way / While You're Here
Kalimna falls is also located close by. If you drive further along Garvey Track, it’ll bring you to a car park and a nice picnic area. From here, there is a walking track that will take you to Kalimna falls.
Sheoak Falls
- 146 km
- Free Parking and Picnic Tables
This one is located right next to the Great Ocean Road (well, pretty much), and I’m quite surprised that I’ve missed it during all my previous drives up and down the Great Ocean Road! The car park is right off the Great Ocean Road. Something to watch-out is that the car park is quite small and could get full easily. From the car park, it’s an easy 700 meter (one way) walk to the falls.
The falls area is really nice and is a nice place to spend some time enjoying the falls. There are benches and rocks you can sit on and if you take a nice little picnic with you, it’s a really nice place to enjoy.
On The Way / While You're Here
You of course have the Great Ocean Road to explore. But, if you’re more adventurous and in the mood for a longer hike, you can follow the trail from here all the way to the Sheoak picnic area (from where you can visit Henderson Falls and Kalimna Falls). This is a 3.2 km, moderate walk.
Toorongo and Amphitheatre Falls
- 134 km
- Free Parking, Public Toilets and Picnic Tables
This is my latest conquest and definitely one of my top three favourites in Victoria! Not only are the falls absolutely beautiful, there are two equally beautiful waterfalls in the same location. You can cover both waterfalls via a circular track , which would take about an hour to cover. Take the path to the right at the fork and you’ll arrive at the Toorongo Falls after about a 20 minute easy to moderate walk. Another 15 minutes from there would take you to Amphitheater Falls, followed by another 10 minute walk back to the car park. The walk to Amphitheater Falls from the car park is an easier one, than the walk to Toorongo Falls. You also get to enjoy a number of smaller falls along the walk.
You have to behold of the beauty of both falls from the comfort of viewing platforms. The viewing platform for Toorongo Falls is nearly at the base of the falls, so you’re really really close to the falls. With Amphitheater Falls, you’d have to observe its beauty from a little distance.
Click here for Google Maps directions.
On The Way / While You're Here
There are a number of places you can checkout on your way like the Noojee Trestle Bridge and the Noojee Heritage Centre. If you’re willing to drive a little bit further, you can also checkout the Thomson Dam and Mount Baw Baw Village. If you’re traveling during the ski season, be mindful that you’d need to buy a resort pass to enter the village and might need to snow chains as well
Here’s a quick glimpse of the Noojee Heritage Centre and the Noojee Trestle Bridge.
Noojee Heritage Centre, Victoria, Australia – DesignBoard Photography
Noojee Trestle Bridge
Erskine Falls
- 152 km
- Free Parking
This beautiful waterfall is located within the Great Otway National Park. This national park itself is an amazing place to explore on its own, but that’s a discussion for a different time. The waterfall itself is located withen an easy 5 to 10 minute walk from the car park. A great thing about this falls is that you can pretty much walk all the way to the base of the falls without much difficulty.
Click here for Google Maps directions
On The Way / While You're Here
There are so many things to checkout on the way and around here, with The Great Ocean Road being the most popular attraction. Other than that, there’s Maits Rest Rainforest Walk and a number of other waterfalls you’ll just below.
Lower Kalimna Falls
- 168 km
- Free Parking, Picnic and Barbeque
- 5.5 km
Another gem in within the Great Otway National Park, and is a top contender for the title of one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Great Otway National Park. The 5.5km (return) walk to the Lower Kalimna Falls takes you through a beautiful creek valley filled with tall ferns and giant blue gums. The walk to the lower falls is an easy one. However, with heavy rains, the path will get quite muddy and sometimes you’d have to climb over fallen trees and branches. You can walk past the lower falls all the way to the Upper Kalimna Falls (8.2km return trip). Unfortunately, during my visit, the path to the upper falls was closed off due fallen trees.
What is a bit unique about this waterfall is that you can easily walk behind the waterfall.
To get to the falls, park at the Sheoak picnic area and follow the clearly marked path to the falls.
Click here for Google Maps directions
Here’s some more details on the (return) walk to the falls.
Lower Kalimna Falls by DesignBoard Photography – Walking Details
On The Way / While You're Here
You can check out Maits Rest Rainforest Walk, Erskine Falls, and Hopetoun Falls as all these are located within a short drive.
Morwell River Falls
- 183 km
- Free Parking
- 800 m
It’s an easy, less than 1km return, walk from the car park. There are picnic tables at the start of the walking path, but these were quite worn out and looked like hadn’t been maintained. The path to the falls is to the right from the picnic tables. The track gets quite narrow and places and could get slippery with rain.
You can get real close to the base of the falls. Elsewhere on the web, there are photos that show a tree with a swing at the base of the tree, which looks really nice. However, neither the tree nor the swing (well, suppose there can’t be a swing without the tree 🙂 are there anymore.
Click here for Google Maps direction
Here’s some more details on the (return) walk to the falls.
Morwell River Falls – Walking Details
On The Way / While You're Here
If you’re in the hunt for another waterfall, you can head over to Cyathea Falls (one down in the list), which is in the general area (around an 82km drive).
Stevenson Falls
- 171 km
- Free Parking and Picnic Area
There’s another falls with the same (but with different spelling) that is in another part of Victoria (Marysville, to be precise), but that’s not what we’re talking about here. This is most probably one of the easiest falls you can walk to. It’s an easy 500 meter (one way) walk from the car park and along the way you get to enjoy some views of the Gellibrand River (you’d have to walk a tiny bit off the walking path) and there is also a beautiful redwood forest to explore. There’s a viewing platform to view the falls from. Just before the viewing platform, there is an open area where you walk on the rocks to get a different perspective of the falls. Or, just find a nice rock to sit and enjoy the beautiful falls.
On The Way / While You're Here
Enjoy the redwoods, a nice picnic and even a dip in the river, if you’re up for it.
Cyathea Falls
- 197 km
- Free Parking, Toilets and Picnic
- 1.8 km
A relatively easy 1.8km return walk from the Tarra Valley Picnic Area through a lush green rain-forest, filled with tall ferns brings you to this waterfall. Early in the walk, you’d come across a fork in the path, marked ‘East Track’ and ‘West Track’. As the path is a loop walk, you can go either way to reach the falls. There are few steps at the end to get to the falls (these could get slippery with rain), but not difficult to tackle.
The falls itself could be a little bit obscured by the ferns. There’s a viewing platform and a bench at the falls.
As the falls are quite small, if you’re planning on visiting, make sure there has been some rain. Otherwise, the falls are likely to run dry quite easily.
Click here for Google Maps directions
Here’s some more details on the (return) walk to the falls.
Cyathea Falls – Walking Details
On The Way / While You're Here
You can check-out Tarra Falls, which is a very short drive (on Tarra Valley Road) from here.
Tarra Falls
- 198 km
- Free Parking
- 50m
On The Way / While You're Here
You can check-out Cyathea Falls, which is a very short drive (on Tarra Valley Road) from here.
Beauchamp Falls
- 203 km
- Free Parking, Picnic and Barbeque
- 3km
Another gem in within the Great Otway National Park, this is, arguably, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Great Otway National Park. The 3km (return) walk takes you through a beautiful forest filled with mountain ash and large myrtle beech trees as well as giant, thick ferns.
The walk to and from the falls is moderate-easy. The walk towards the falls is downhill and the return is uphill (duh!). The return journey is a bit steep and there are a number of steps on the way, which could get a bit slippery with rain.
To get to the falls, take the walking path from the Beauchamp Falls Campground located on the Beauchamp Falls Road. Once you turn off the Beech Forest-Mount Sabine Road, there’s about a 3km drive along an unsealed/gravel road, but nothing a normal sedan cannot handle.
Click here for Google Maps directions
Here’s some more details on the (return) walk to the falls.
Walking details to Beauchap Falls by DesignBoard Photography
On The Way / While You're Here
You can check out Maits Rest Rainforest Walk, Erskine Falls, and Hopetoun Falls as all these are located within a short drive.
Hopetoun Falls
- 217 km
- Free Parking
Now we’re staring to move beyond the 200 km mark from the city and the first one this far away is another one of my favourites and also in my top three. The beauty of this wonderful waterfall can be admired from two places; from the upper vieweing platform, which is just a 5 minute easy walk from the car park. But, if you really want to get close and personal, then take the walk to the lower viewing platform, which is about a 1km return trip. The walk to the lower viewing platform is relatively easy. But, the return journey is a bit tougher, as yu’d have to ascend around 200 steps that you would have breezed past on your way down. The return journey is a moderately difficult (or easy, depending on how you want to look at it) walk. But, hey, good things never come easy, eh!
On The Way / While You're Here
Apart from The Great Ocean Road, you can also check out Maits Rest Rainforest Walk and Erskine Falls.
Maits Rest Rainforest Walk
Maits Rest Rainforest Walk, Victoria, Australia – DesignBoard Photography
Triplet Falls
- 224 km
- Free Parking
This is another beautiful waterfall located within the Great Otway National Park. The falls is found inside a stunning ancient rainforest. A clearly defined and moderately easy walk of around 1.8 kms will take you through the rainforest and to the viewing platforms for the falls. The circular walk starts from the car park and ends there, taking you through a loop within the rainforest. During the walk, you’ll also see the ancient looking remnants of an old timber mill. The only catch is that the best parts of the falls would be covered by the tall ferns and you’d have to admire the falls from a bit of a distance.
Click here for Google Maps directions
On The Way / While You're Here
You can check out Maits Rest Rainforest Walk, Erskine Falls, and Hopetoun Falls as all these are located within a short drive.
Hopkins Falls
- 241 km
- Free Parking
Technically, Hopkins Falls is not located within the Great Otway National Park. But, hey, there’s no reason not to check this one out right, since we’re in the general area, right? I’m glad you agreed and decided to check this one also out! This must be widest waterfall I’ve seen in Australia (so far. I obviously haven’t seen all the waterfalls in Australia, yet)! Access to the falls is very easy from the car park. The upper viewing platform if literally a few feet from the car park and provides a bird’s eye view of the falls. Walk a bit to the right and a few steps will take you to a lower viewing area for a closer look at the falls. For an even more up-close-and-personal view of the falls, you can walk across the grassy area and make your way to the water’s edge. Be mindful as the grass could be slippery and muddy at places.
MacKenzie Falls
- 309 km
- Free Parking
With this one we’re breaking the 300 km limit and moving to the territory of the Great Grampians. MacKenzie Falls is most probably the most iconic waterfall in the Grampians and it’s not difficult to see why.This is another one where a not too easy 1 km trek down narrow and steep steps will take you to a breathtaking view of the falls at it’s base. The walk down to the base of the falls is definitely recommended if you want to admire this beautiful waterfall in its full majesty. The walk down is relatively easier, compared to the trip back up. The round-trip is around 2 kms.
On The Way / While You're Here
The Grampians is a vast area with so many things to check-out and explore. It’s got some amazing walking and cycling tracks to explore and numerous camping sites. You can also check-out Nigretta Falls and Wannon Falls, which another two beautiful waterfalls in the Grampians that are located quite close by.
Nigretta Falls
- 311 km
- Free Parking, Public Toilets, Picnic Tables and Barbeque
Located just a couple kms drive from MacKenzie Falls is Nigretta Falls. The falls are very easily accessible from the carpark. You can view the falls either from the upper viewing area or take the short walk down to the base of the falls for the best view. Even though, technically, Nigretta and Wannon Falls are located in Hamilton, and not exactly in the Grampians, I’m counting this as in Grampians as the Grampians is a much better central location to access so many things, compared to Hamilton.
Click here for Google Maps directions
On The Way / While You're Here
The Grampians is a vast area with so many things to check-out and explore. It’s got some amazing walking and cycling tracks to explore and numerous camping sites. You can also check-out MacKenzie Falls and Wannon Falls, which another two beautiful waterfalls in the Grampians that are located quite close by.
Wannon Falls
- 314 km
- Free Parking
Another gem in the Grampians (even though, technically, Nigretta and Wannon Falls are located in Hamilton, and not exactly in the Grampians, I’m counting this as in Grampians as the Grampians is a much better central location to access so many things, compared to Hamilton). This is also easily accessible from the carpark. The vieweing platform offers a maginificent bird’s eye view of the falls from a distance.
Click here for Google Maps directions
On The Way / While You're Here
The Grampians is a vast area with so many things to check-out and explore. It’s got some amazing walking and cycling tracks to explore and numerous camping sites. You can also check-out MacKenzie Falls and Nigretta Falls, which another two beautiful waterfalls in the Grampians that are located quite close by.
Ladies Bath and Eurobin Falls
- 314 km
- Roadside Parking, Picnic Area
Located within the Mount Buffalo National Park, this is another beautiful waterfall to explore, though on the smaller side of things compared to some of the other ones. A trail winds away from the roadside carpark and will take you Ladies Bath Falls and Eurobin Falls, a little bit further along. When I visited, there was no water flowing on Eurobin Falls, so, it’s not covered in my list.
Click here for Google Maps directions
On The Way / While You're Here
Much like the Grampians, this waterfall is also located in an area that offers so many things to explore. On your way here, make sure to drive along The Great Alpine Road, which is a very well known and picturesque route in Victoria. You can also check-out Mount Buffalo Nantional Park, Bright, and Falls Creek. The drive along The Great Alpine Road and through Bright is especially breathtaking during fall when all the leaves start turning color.
